The overview
The degree program began last fall as a collaboration between the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences and the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science.
Students take a set of computer science courses in the Jonsson School, as well as courses in geospatial science from EPPS that cover subjects like drone and remote sensing, internet mapping and spatial data science.
Ovidiu Daescu, computer science department head, said in the release that advances in three-dimensional data acquisition have created a higher demand for computational ways to work with spatial data.
“Modern GIS technology has moved to computers, requiring programming-related skills,” said Yongwan Chun, geospatial information sciences program head, in the release. “And some computer science students wanted to apply their ideas geospatially, so there was a need on both sides.”
Looking ahead
The program’s curriculum is currently built from classes already offered from both schools, but Chun said new offerings are in the works.
“I’m excited because this gives students the ability to progress toward myriad career opportunities,” said Jennifer Holmes, dean of the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, in the release. “Geospatial information sciences, a highly reliable career field, combined with computer science, will give graduates options.”
Potential employment roles for program graduates include analysts, technicians and software developers in geospatial information sciences, as well as cartographers and regional planners.
